IdeaItalia begins production in North Carolina
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 22, 2005
Conover, N.C. — IdeaItalia, a new specialist in contemporary Italian case goods, has begun production in a 235,000-square-foot plant here. Former Progressive CEO Pete Pilliod is president.
IdeaItalia acquired the rights to designs of former Italian producer SanGiorgio, and also plans to develop new product. Pilliod said the Conover plant will be in full production by October High Point market.
IdeaItalia will source components in Italy and other countries for assembly and warehousing in Conover, where the company has a 33-acre site that leaves plenty of room for expansion.
Pilliod said the new company seeks to offer the competitive values of global sourcing with the service advantages of a domestic producer.
"The average retailer in this country is in love with Chinese product because of its great value, but after that there are some things they don't like," he said. Asian imports can pose problems for U.S. retailers in product flow, parts replacement and over-ordering, he said.
